Automated product profiling apparatus and product slicing system using same

ABSTRACT

A system, suitable for high-speed operation, by which raw product ( 45 ), such as a slab of meat, can be accurately processed, such as by slicing into segments of desired weight, comprises a product profiling apparatus ( 15 ). The product profiling apparats ( 15 ) meassures the profile of the physical process. The product profiling apparatus ( 15 ) includes line lasers ( 75, 85 ) for directing a line of light across the upper and lower surfaces of the product ( 45 ) and visual image cameras ( 80, 90 ) directed toward the profile surface to capture, at fixed increments, the product profile. The product may also be weighed and the product density determined from the overall profile measurements. A controller ( 150 ) receives this data, and instructs the physical process accordingly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage application of PCT/US00/10691,filed Apr. 20, 2000 and claiming priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/130,208, filed Apr. 20, 1999.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for determining theprofile of a product that is to undergo a subsequent physical process.The subsequent physical process is one in which the product profile isneeded to insure proper processing of the product.

In the particular embodiment disclosed herein, the specific subsequentphysical process includes slicing the product into individual slices ona slicing machine. Such slicing machines are principally, but notexclusively, used for slicing food products such as cheese, meat andpressed or molded meat products.

Typically such slicing machines include a rotating blade and a productfeeder that drives the product forward towards the blade so thatsuccessive slices are cut from one face of the product. The distancethrough which the product is advanced between successive cuts of theblade determines the thickness of the slices. Where the product is ofuniform shape and density, it may be sufficient to use a singlepredetermined slice thickness to give a slice or group of slices of therequired weight. Further, it may be sufficient to provide an outputscale proximate the output side of the blade to measure the currentweight of the slice to product and adjust the thickness of thesubsequent slice(s) to make the desired unit weight.

In general, however, variations in the shape and density of the productmean that the weight of a slice of a given thickness varies. A previousapproach to dealing with this variation is described and claimed in U.S.Pat. No. 4,428,263, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Thatpatent describe a process in which an automatic slicing machine isprogramed to vary the thickness of the slices in accordance with atypical weight distribution for the product.

It has also been proposed to make some determination of thecross-sectional area of the product as it is cut. One such system ispurportedly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,906, titled “SlicingMachine”, and assigned to Thurne Engineering Co., Ltd. According to thatpatent, a slicing machine for cutting slices from a product includes acamera arranged to view a cut face of the product, boundary recognitionapparatus arranged to process image signals from the camera to determinea boundary of the cut face, calculating apparatus arranged to calculatea parameter characteristic of the cut face from image data correspondingto regions of the cut face within the boundary, and control signalgenerating apparatus arranged to generate a control signal to controlthe operation of the slicer in accordance with the determined parameter.

Although the foregoing system may be suitable for low-throughput slicingmachines, it is significantly less suitable for high-speed slicingmachines, such as those available from Formax, Inc., of Mokena, Ill.,under the brand name S-180™. First, by calculating the product profileat the cut face, a very limited amount of processing time is availableto perform the calculations that are necessary to ensure the properthickness of each slice before the cut face must again be imaged forprocessing the thickness of the next slice. Second, substantialmeasurement inaccuracies may result from shadowing effects resultingfrom the relative positions of the illumination source, cut face, andslicing machine components—a problem not addressed in the '906 patent.Third, further measurement inaccuracies are introduced by the apparentassumption that the profiles at the bottom and a side of the product arelinear. Finally, by attempting to measure the product profile at the cutface, substantial inaccuracies may be introduced due to the presence ofscrap product. One of the goals of the apparatus described in the '906patent is to remove the inaccuracies introduced by the scrap product.However, by addressing this problem at the cut face, the apparatus ofthe '906 must necessarily introduce a further level and higher degree ofimage processing.

The present inventors have addressed many of the foregoing problemsinherent in the product profiling operations of prior art apparatus. Tothis end, they have developed an accurate and cost-effective productprofiling apparatus that is suitable for use, for example, in connectionwith high-speed product slicing machines.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for acquiring a profile of a product for use in subsequentprocessing of the product is set forth the apparatus includes a scanningchamber for accepting the product and one or more product drives thatare operable to drive the product through the scanning chamber prior todelivery of the product to subsequent product processor. The apparatusalso includes a vision system disposed to acquire visual informationrelating to the profile of the product prior to delivery of the productto a subsequent product processor and a control system connected forcontrol of the vision system and operating to convert the informationreceived from the vision system into a format suitable for use by asubsequent product processor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a product processing system constructedin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a controlsystem that may be used in the profiling apparatus of the systemillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary image obtained by the upper vision system of theembodiment of the profiling apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of one embodiment of a profilingapparatus that may be used in the system FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an input stacker.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a product stopper atthe inlet to the vision system housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a product processing system, shown generally at 10,that performs a physical process on a product in which the physicalprocess is dependent on accurate measurement of the profile of the rawproduct. As shown, product processing system 10 is comprised of aproduct profiling apparatus 15 and a product processor 20. The productprofiting apparatus 15 functions to measure the profile of the rawproduct and provide the profile information to the product processor 20that, in turn, uses the information to accurately execute the physicalprocess that is to be performed on the raw product.

In the illustrated embodiment, the acquisition of the product profileinformation is completed before the particular raw product undergoesphysical processing in the product processor 20. Using the configurationshown in FIG. 1 in which the profiling apparatus 15 is disposed prior tothe product processor 20, it is possible to acquire complete productprofiles for several individual raw products before each of the rawproducts is provided to the input of the product processor 20.Additionally, if the profiling apparatus 15 is designed as a stand-aloneapparatus, then the profiling apparatus 15 may be used to provideproduct profile information to a plurality of different productprocessors that are operating in either a time sequential or concurrentmanner.

Generally stated, the profiling apparatus 15 is comprised of an inputsection 25, a scanning section 30, and an output section 35. The inputsection 25 includes a plurality of support bars 40 that are disposed tosupport the product 45 that is to be profiled. A plurality of upstandingfingers 50 extend through interstitial regions between the support bars40. The fingers 50 engage a rear portion of product 45 and drive it intothe scanning section 30. The fingers are arranged to be vertically abovethe support bars when moved in the driving direction and verticallybeneath the bars when conducted in the return direction.

Scanning section 30 includes a housing 55 having an input end that isopen to receive product 45 and an outlet end that is open to allowproduct 45 to exit therefrom. In the illustrated embodiment, housing 55comprises a principal housing portion 60, an upper vision system housing65, and a lower vision housing 70. The upper vision system housing 65includes an upper vision system disposed therein. The upper visionsystem of the disclosed embodiment includes a vertically directed linelaser 75 for illuminating one side of the product in a fixed planetraversed by the driven product and an associated camera 80 verticallyangled for imaging the laser-illuminated contour of the product 45.Similarly, the lower vision system housing 70 includes a lower visionsystem disposed therein that is comprised of a line laser 85 andcorresponding camera 90 for addressing the other side of the product.Each of the upper and lower vision system housings 65 and 70 includes anopening that is positioned to allow the respective vision system to viewa product 45 passing through the principal housing 60. These openingsmay merely comprise cut out sections. Preferably, however, the openingsare covered with a transparent material to form a window thatmechanically isolates the vision system components from the componentsdisposed in the principal housing 60 yet does not interfere with thevision system operation.

Although, for purposes of this overview description of the productprofiling apparatus 15, with reference to the early Figures, a singleline laser is shown for use in each of the upper and lower vision systemhousings 65 and 70, it is considered more preferable, as furtherdiscussed below with respect to a more detailed discussion of structureand operation of the system machinery, that each of the vision systemhousings contain two opposing line lasers for illuminating downwardlyand across the product from opposed sides of the product. In instancesof a considerably uneven profile and/or in the event of highlyreflective surface characteristics, opposed sides illumination on theproduct provides for higher resolution camera imaging.

Within principal housing 60, product 45 is supported by a plurality ofrounded support bars 95. These support bars 95 may be formed asextensions of support bars 40, or may be formed as a support componentthat is distinct from support bars 40. The number and diameter of thesupport bars 95 should be minimized to facilitate accuracy of thescanning measurements provided by the lower vision system. Mostpreferably, although not shown, the diameters of the support bars 95 aresubstantially reduced to a minimum where they cross the laser light lineemanating from the lower vision system laser.

Product 45 is driven through the principal housing 60 by a productdrive, shown generally at 100. In the illustrated embodiment, theproduct drive 100 is comprised of a product engagement member 105 thatis disposed to engage a rear portion of product 45 and drive it alongsupport rods 95 through the principal housing 60. Product engagementmember 105 includes a plurality of slots that are disposed to allowconcurrent operation of the fingers 50 and product engagement member 105at the input end of the principal housing 60. A pair of upstandingmembers 110 are connected to opposite ends of the product engagementmember 105. The upstanding members 110, in tun, are fastened torespective drive belts 115 and 120 to move the product engagement member105 and corresponding product 45 through the principal housing 60. Thedrive belts 115 and 120 are preferably driven at a constant, precisevelocity by, for example, a servo motor, a motor with a resolver, etc.

At the outlet end of the principal housing 60, the product 45 is engagedby another set of fingers 130 that extends through interstitial regionsof support bars 95. Support bars 95 may be extended to the outputsection 35 or, alternatively, a further distinct set of support bars maybe used to support the product 45 at the output section 35. Fingers 130engage the rear portion of product 45 and drive it to the output section35 and therefrom to the processing apparatus 20, which, in the disclosedembodiment, is a slicing machine.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a controlsystem suitable for controlled operation of product profiling apparatus15. In the illustrated embodiment, the control system comprises acentral controller 150 that is responsible for 1) controlling the drivemechanisms associated with various portions of the profiling apparatus15; 2) coordinating the operation of the vision systems, includingacquisition of the profile data; and 3) communicating the profile datato control systems for one or more product processors 20. To this end,the central controller 150 is connected to receive sensed signals fromand provide motion control signals to each of the input and outputsection drives 155 and 160 and the scanning section drive 165.Similarly, the central controller 150 is connected to receive sensedsignals from and provide scanning control signals to the upper and lowervision systems 170 and 175. Ultimately, the profile information acquiredfrom the upper and lower vision systems 170 and 175 is communicated tothe control system 180 of at least one product processor 20. The profileinformation may be communicated to the control system 180 in any one ofa variety of processing states. For example, the central controller 150may communicate raw profile data to the control system 180.Alternatively, or in addition, the central controller 150 maycommunicate the profile information after the raw data it acquires hasbeen processed at the central controller 150 thereby relieving thecontrol system 180 from much of the additional processing overheadassociated with profile calculations.

If more than one product processor 20 is to be served by a singleproduct profiling apparatus 15, then a method for tracking each product45 through the system to insure that each of the product processors 20receives the correct profile data must be provided. For example, each ofthe products 45 may be provided with a bar-code or other visual imagemarker that may be acquired or otherwise input to the central controller150 as well as the particular control system 180, 180′, 180″ associatedwith the particular product processor 20 that is to slice the particularproduct. When the identity of the product 45 that is to be sliced by theproduct processor is determined by the respective control system 180,180′, 180″, the particular control system may request the profile dataassociated with the identified product from the central controller 150.

Operation of the product profiling apparatus 15 can be described withrespect to FIGS. 1 and 2. First, the product 45, shown here as a slab ofbacon or the like, is provided at input section 25 where it is supportedby support rods 40. Central controller 150 then activates input sectiondrive 155 so that fingers 50 engage the rear portion of product 45 anddrive it into the scanning section 30. Product engagement member 105 ispreferably hinged to swing out of the way or otherwise glide over theupper surface of product 45 as it is moved through the opening at theinput of the scanning section 30. The central controller 150 directs thescanning section drive 165 to operate so that the product engagementmember 105 contacts the rear portion of product 45 and begins to driveproduct 45 through the interior chamber of the principal housing 55.Preferably, the product 45 is driven a small distance over support rods95 before reaching the position in the principal housing 55 in whichproduct scanning begins. This allows the product to settle upon thesupport rods 95 and against product engagement member 105 beforescanning thereby increasing the accuracy of the resulting profile data.

In accordance with one embodiment of the profiling apparatus 15, aresolver or the like associated with the scanning section drive 165generates control pulses corresponding to incremental movement of theproduct 45 over a fixed distance through the principal housing 55. Thesecontrol pulses are used as synchronization signals that the centralcontroller 150 uses to trigger the acquisition of a profile reading.Here, the profile readings are in the form of a visual image captured bythe cameras 80 and 90 at fixed increments along the length of theproduct 45. The product profile is accentuated by directing a line oflaser light across the upper and lower surfaces of the product 45.Accordingly, the interior of the principal housing 55 should be as darkas possible so that cameras 80 and 90 may detect the line projected byline lasers 75 and 85.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary image acquired by camera 80 of profilingapparatus 15. Although camera 80 is capable all of providing an image of640×480 pixels, only a sub-portion of that entire available image isextracted by central controller 150 for further processing. As shown,the resulting image is comprised of linear end regions 200. The linearend regions are formed by reflection of the light from line laser 75 bya pair of reference reflectors that, preferably, are disposed to be evenwith the upper surfaces of support rods 95. There are a plurality ofelevated, non-linear regions between linear regions 200. These nonlinearregions correspond to the upper profile of product 45 that has beenilluminated by line laser 75. By taking measurements of the verticaldistance (e.g., the number of vertical pixels) between linear endregions 200 and the elevated, non-linear regions, it is possible tocalculate the contour of the profile of the product at the positionalong the interior of principal housing 55 at which the image wasacquired. By acquiring a number of such images along the length ofproduct 45, an accurate representation of the upper profile of product45 can be obtained. Similar images are concurrently acquired by camera90 based on illumination of the lower portion of product 45 by linelaser 85. As in the case of the upper profile measurements, linearreference regions are formed by reflection of the light from line laser85 by a pair of reference reflectors. From the images of the upper andlower product surfaces that are acquired by the upper and lower visionsystems 170 and 175, the central controller 150 can provide asubstantially accurate data representation of the complete productprofile to control system 180 of product processor 20.

Depending on the content of the product 45, the laser light impinging onthe upper surface of product 45 may be dispersed in different manners.For example, if the product 45 is bacon or another fat-containingcomestible, fatted regions, such as at 205 disperse the laser light to agreater degree than lean regions 210. As a result, a broader light bandis formed at the fatted regions 205. Controller 150 may compensate forthis dispersion by, for example, selecting the area of highest darkpixel concentration for the vertical measurement. Alternatively, avertical distance measurement may be obtained by taking the averagevertical distance of the uppermost vertical distance measurement and thelowermost vertical distance measurement

As shown in FIG. 3, the light reflected from the surface of product 45may be blocked from the view of the camera. These regions appear as voidregions 215. In such regions, central c controller 150 may be programmedto assume a linear transition of the surface contour. Since u voidregions 215 are generally of a very limited dimension, this assumptionstill provides for an accurate representation of the overall productprofile. Similarly, an assumption that there is a linear transition ofthe surface contour at the regions of the lower surface of product 45that are blocked by support rods 90 does not significantly diminish theaccuracy of the profile measurements. To minimize any inaccuraciesintroduced by the presence of support rods 95, the number and diameterof support rods 90 should be minimized. Further, support rods 95 shouldhave a generally round cross-section so that they generate obstructed orotherwise unusable regions of the profile image that are substantiallyequal in the length.

Once product 45 as been driven to the outlet portion of scanning section30, the central controller 150 controls the output section drive 160 sothat fingers 130 engage the rear portion of product 45 and drive it fromthe interior of scanning section 15 to output section 35. Product 45 maybe removed by an operator from section 35 and provided to the input of asubsequent product processor 20. Alternatively, the output section 35and corresponding output section drive 160 may be designed to driveproduct 45 into a loading position on the subsequent product processor.

Profiling apparatus 15 may include a digital scale 230 (shownschematically in FIG. 1) for weighing the product 45. The output of thedigital scale may be provided to central controller 150. Centralcontroller 150 may be programmed to calculate the overall volume ofproduct 45 based on the profile measurements. Central controller 150 maythen, use the overall product value and the weight provided by thedigital scale to calculate the average density of the product 45. Theaverage density measurement may be used by a slicing machine, such asproduct processor 20, in combination with the profile measurements tocalculate the product slice thicknesses that are required to make aparticular weight, such as the weight of product slices that are to beprovided in a single consumer package. Alternatively, one or more of theaverage density, overall volume, or product profilemeasurements/calculations may be executed by the control system 180 ofthe slicing machine.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a specific embodiment of the profilingapparatus 15 in which like parts are similarly numbered. Of note inconnection with the embodiment shown in these. Figures are the drivemechanisms associated with input section 25, scanning section 30, andoutput section 35.

It has been found and is considered preferable that, rather than using asingle line laser to illuminate a surface of the product as shown inFIG. 4, a pair of generally opposed lasers applying overlapping beams tocover that surface of the product can yield more profile data and betterresolution in the camera image. This would be the case especially ininstances where the product surface is quite irregular and/or containslarge fatted regions since these situations tend to result in shadowingan/or blurring in the camera image. The more the profile data and thebetter the resolution in the camera image, the more definite and preciseis the surface profile data, there being less need for averaging orextrapolation.

In the case of using more than one line laser in each of the visionsystem housings above and below the product, the lasers are preferablydisposed on opposite sides of the product and projecting their beamsdown onto and across the product. The camera position generally does notchange. In this way, a triangulated approach to capture of the surfaceprofile on both respective sides of the product is utilized.

As illustrated, the drive mechanisms associated with the input section25 and output section 35 are interrelated. More particularly, the drivemechanisms are comprised of a single, dual-ended pneumatic actuator,shown generally at 300 that is mounted below support rods 40 (thesupport rods throughout are continuous and formed as a single set ofrods). Actuator 300 includes a piston rod 305 having a first endconnected to a first finger engagement assembly 315 and a second endconnected to a second finger engagement assembly 310. Finger engagementassembly 310 includes the fingers 50 thereon while finger engagementassembly 315 includes the fingers 130 thereon. Fingers 50 are disposedon a pivot rod 320 along with one or more counterbalance mechanisms 325.The counterbalance mechanisms 325 urge fingers 50 to rotate about ahorizontal axis defined by pivot rod 320 until fingers 50 engage one ormore stop members 330. The one or more stop members 330 are disposed tothe stock fell rotation of fingers 50 when they are in an uprightposition. This arrangement allows fingers 50 to slide under a successiveproduct 45 disposed on the input section 25 as the fingers are drivenback to the home position after delivering a previous product 45 to thescanning section 30.

A similar arrangement is provided for finger assembly 315 disposed atthe first end of piston rod 305. Here, however, the one or morecounterbalance mechanisms 335 of the finger assembly 315 are positionedto engage a further stop member 340 at the output position of the outputsection 35. As the fingers 130 drive product 45 along output section 35,counterbalance mechanisms 335 are driven into engagement with thefurther stop mechanisms 340. This causes the fingers 130 to rotate abouta horizontal axis defined by pivot rod 345 which assists in driving theproduct 45 from output section 35 to, for example, the input of aslicing machine.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the scanning section driveincludes motor 350 that is connected to rotate drive roller 355. Driveroller 355, in turn, drives belts 115 and 120, each of which extendsbetween drive roller 355 and idle roller 360. Securement mechanisms 365are connected to upstanding members 110 (shown in FIG. 5) to secureupstanding members 110 and product engagement member 105 with drivesbelts 115 and 120. The securement mechanisms 365 are connected to oneanother by a strut 372 to enhance the rigidity of the overall drivemechanism. Additionally, securement mechanisms 365 each engagerespective guide rods 377 that extend along the length of the transportpath along which the product engagement member 105 moves product 45through scanning section 30. Preferably, securement members 365 eachinclude a pivoted connection 378 that allows the product engagementmember 105 to glide over the upper surface of a product 45 disposed inthe scanning section 30 as member 105 is returned to its home positionafter driving a product from the scanning section 30. Alternatively, theproduct engagement member 105 may be actively moved by, for example, anactuator, so that its movement to the home position is not obstructed bythe product 45.

To further facilitate and enhance continuous, automated running of theinvention product processing system, the product is preferably suppliedto the input section 25 from a stacked input. FIG. 6 illustrates aspecific embodiment of a vertically extending stacker 400, in the formof a chute the walls of which are defined by columns of rollers 410. Thelower end of the chute is immediately above, and opens onto, the inputsection 25. The upper end of the chute extends above and angles awayfrom the input section. The chute defines a gravity-drop passage inwhich a plurality of the products can be stacked one on top of the otherfor successive and automatic loading onto the input section 25. Aftereach previous, underlying product has landed on the input sectionsupport bars and been passed from beneath the chute into the scanningsection 30 by the fingers 50, the next product in the stack drops ontothe input section support bars such that the system is automaticallyloaded for a continuous running operation.

As a back-up precaution in the event the scanning section drive 350 getsahead of the return movement of the fingers 130, there is preferablyprovided a product stop 380, shown in FIG. 7, which could hold themovement of the product under the influence of the engagement member 105until the fingers 130 have fully returned to engage the next product Theproduct stopper 380 is freely pivotable about a transverse, horizontalaxis, and formed at a forward side with an L-shaped stop wall 381 and onthe other side of the pivot axis with a counterweight abutment 382.Until the piston carrying the fingers 130 is fully returned, theL-shaped stop wall 381 is in a raised blocking position in the path ofconveyance of the next product being delivered to the vision systemhousing, as shown by the dotted line image in FIG. 7. With the piston inits fully-returned position, the counterweight abutment 382 is engagedand raised, causing the stop wall 381 to be lowered and not obstructingthe conveyance movement of the next product In this case, the engagementmember 105 is able to conduct the product over the tilted-own fingers130, as well as the lowered stop wall, and fully into the vision systemhousing for further conveyance, from behind, by the then raised fingers130.

Other features of the specific embodiment that are shown in FIGS. 4 and5 include reference reflectors 375. The reference reflectors 375 arethose referenced above in connection with the operation of the profilingapparatus 15.

Numerous modifications may be made to the foregoing system withoutdeparting from the basic teachings though the present invention has beendescribed in substantial detail with reference to one or more specificembodiments, those of skill in the art will recognize that changes maybe made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention as set forth herein.

1. An apparatus for representing the surface profile of a food productfor use in subsequent processing of the food product, comprising: adrive mechanism which conducts the product in a linear direction; linelasers for illuminating the surface profile of the product in a fixedplane transverse to the linear direction; at least one reflector forreceiving light from the line lasers and reflecting reference markers inthe fixed plane disposed on opposed sides of the product; camerasdisposed relative to the product for detecting the surface profile andthe reference markers projected by the line lasers; and a controllercoordinating actuation of the line lasers and cameras at discreteincrements along the full linear length of the product as the product isconducted through the fixed plane.
 2. The apparatus claim 1, furthercomprising a product processor which receives the product and receivesthe profile information detected by the cameras, the product processoracting on the product in reliance upon the profile information.
 3. Theapparatus of claims 2, further comprising a scale along the conveyor forweighing the complete volume of the product before being acted on by theproduct processor, and the product processor acting on the product inreliance upon the weight information.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein the product processor includes a slicing machine.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein the drive mechanism is connected to theproduct processor.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least oneline laser is disposed above the product and at least one line laser isdisposed beneath the product.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein onereference marker is disposed at one lateral side of the product andanother reference marker is disposed at the opposed lateral side of theproduct.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the cameras are orientedto acquire a visual image of the surface profile appearing as linear endregions and a plurality of vertically offset, non-linear regions betweenthe end regions.
 9. An apparatus for representing the surface profile ofa food product for use in subsequent processing of the food product,comprising: a conveyor line which conducts the product in a lineardirection; line lasers for illuminating the surface profile of theproduct in a fixed plane transverse to the linear direction; referencemarkers in the fixed plane for disposition on opposed sides of theproduct; cameras disposed relative to the product for detecting thesurface profile projected by the line lasers relative to the referencemarkers; a controller coordinating actuation of the line lasers andcameras at discrete increments along the full linear length of theproduct as the product is conducted through the fixed plane; a productprocessor which receives the product and receives the profileinformation detected by the cameras, the product processor acting on theproduct in reliance upon the profile information; wherein the conveyorline is connected to the product processor; and a stack chute connectedto an input of said conveyor line and configured to hold a stack ofproducts, wherein the conveyor line receives a products successively andcontinuously from said stack chute.
 10. An apparatus for representingthe surface profile of a food product for use in subsequent processingof the food product, comprising: a conveyor line which conducts theproduct in a linear direction; line lasers for illuminating the surfaceprofile of the product in a fixed plane transverse to the lineardirection; reference markers in the fixed plane for disposition onopposed sides of the product; cameras disposed relative to the productfor detecting the surface profile projected by the line lasers relativeto the reference markers; and a controller coordinating actuation of theline lasers and cameras at discrete increments along the full linearlength of the product as the product is conducted through the fixedplane; wherein at least one line laser is disposed above the product andat least one line laser is disposed beneath the product; wherein atleast one reference marker is disposed at one lateral side of theproduct and at least one reference marker is disposed at the opposedlateral side of the product; wherein the cameras acquire a visual imageof the surface profile appearing as linear end regions and a pluralityof vertically offset, non-linear regions between the end regions; andwherein the product is meat.
 11. An automated system for processing afood product based on the acquisition of its surface profile,comprising: a food product processor; a conveyor line along which thefood product is conducted, in sequence, between a profiling apparatusand said food product processor; the profiling apparatus comprising ascanning chamber having upper and lower windows having line lasers aboveand below the food product for illuminating the surface profile of thefood product across a fixed plane transverse to the conveyance directionof the food product and cameras for imaging the surface profileprojected by the line lasers, said line lasers and cameras locatedoutside the scanning chamber but in light-communication with the foodproduct through said windows; the food product processor having acontrol system for varying its processing operation on the product basedupon the surface profile of the food product; and a controllerdetermining the surface profile of the food product from the imagesacquired by the cameras.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the productis supported in the profiling apparatus on a plurality of spaced-partbars extending parallel to the conveyed direction of the product. 13.The system of claim 12, wherein the bars are sized and shaped within thefixed plane to minimize obstruction of camera imaging of the productprofile.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the conveyor line receivesa stacked input of products, and conducts the input productssuccessively and continuously.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein twoline lasers are disposed above the food product and two line lasers aredisposed beneath the food product.
 16. The system of claim 11, whereinthe profiling apparatus also has reference reflectors in the fixed planefor disposition on opposed sides of the food product.
 17. The system ofclaim 16, wherein two line lasers are disposed above the food productand two line lasers are disposed beneath the food product.
 18. Thesystem of claim 17, wherein the cameras acquire a visual image of thesurface profile appearing as linear end regions and a plurality ofvertically offset, non-linear regions between the end regions.
 19. Anautomated system for processing a food product based on the acquisitionof its surface profile, comprising: a conveyor line along which theproduct is conducted, in sequence, between a profiling apparatus and aproduct processor; the profiling apparatus having line lasers above andbelow the product for illuminating the surface profile of the productacross a fixed plane transverse to the conveyance direction of theproduct and cameras for imaging the surface profile projected by theline lasers; the product processor having a control system for varyingits processing operation on the product based upon the surface profileof the product; a controller determining the surface profile of theproduct from the images acquired by the cameras; and a digital scale forweighing the product and providing the weight information to thecontroller.
 20. An automated system for processing a food product basedon the acquisition of its surface profile, comprising: a conveyor linealong which the product is conducted, in sequence, between a profilingapparatus and a product processor; the profiling apparatus having linelasers above and below the product for illuminating the surface profileof the product across a fixed plane transverse to the conveyancedirection of the product and cameras for imaging the surface profileprojected by the line lasers; the product processor having a controlsystem for varying its processing operation on the product based uponthe surface profile of the product; a controller determining the surfaceprofile of the product from the images acquired by the cameras; andwherein the product is meat, and the product processor slices the meatto obtain slices of particular weight.
 21. A method of determining thesurface profile of a food product to be processed based on surfaceprofile information, comprising: illuminating the surface profile of theproduct, including upper and lower surfaces, in a plane transverse tothe product's length, with line lasers; simultaneously illuminating areference reflector with the surface profile with at least one of theline lasers; imaging the illuminated surface profile and referencereflector with cameras focused on the plane; performing the illuminatingand imaging steps at discrete increments along the entire length of theproduct; and acquiring the profile images from the cameras for theentire length of the product.
 22. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising: disposing reference reflectors on opposed sides of theproduct within the fixed plane.
 23. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising: automating movement of the product through the fixed planeand to a product processor.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein theprocessing involves slicing the product transverse to its length intoslices of desired weight.
 25. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising: fixing the illumination plane; and conducting the productincrementally in its lengthwise direction through the plane.
 26. Themethod according to claim 21, wherein the product is meat.
 27. Themethod according to claim 22, wherein the product is meat.
 28. Themethod according to claim 23, wherein the product is meat.
 29. Themethod according to claim 24, wherein the product is meat.
 30. Themethod according to claim 25, wherein the product is meat.
 31. Themethod according to claim 21, wherein the product is meat, andcomprising the further steps of: automating movement of the productthrough the fixed plane and to a product processor; fixing theillumination plane; conducting the product incrementally in itslengthwise direction through the plane; and in a processing step,slicing the product transverse to its length into slices of desiredweight.
 32. An apparatus for acquiring a profile of a food product foruse in subsequent processing of the product comprising: a scanningchamber for accepting the food product; one or more product drives thatare operable to drive the food product through the scanning chamber; anupper vision system disposed to acquire visual information relating tothe profile of the upper portion of the food product; a lower visionsystem disposed to acquire visual information relating to the profile ofthe lower portion of the food product; and a control system connectedfor control of the upper and lower vision systems and operating toconvert the information received from the upper and lower vision systemsinto a format suitable for use by a subsequent food product processor.